Olympic Broadcasting

THE PLACE OF TV RIGHTS FEES IN OLYMPIC REVENUE

Television is the engine that has driven the growth of the Olympic Movement. Increases in broadcast revenue over the past two decades have provided the Olympic Movement and sport with an unprecedented financial base.

This has allowed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make substantial contributions to the development of sport throughout the world. The IOC has provided direct support to Organising Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs), Olympic Solidarity (OS), The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and International Federations (IFs).

TV rights fees continue to account for approximately 50 percent of Olympic revenue.

FREE TV COVERAGE

The IOC has often declined higher offers for broadcast on a pay-per-view basis or because a broadcaster could reach only a limited part of the population, as this is against Olympic Broadcast Policy. This fundamental IOC Policy, set forth in the Olympic Charter, ensures the maximum presentation of the Olympic Games by broadcasters around the world to everyone who has access to television. Rights are only sold to broadcasters who can guarantee the broadest coverage throughout their respective countries free of charge.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BROADCAST THE OLYMPIC GAMES?

The Athens Olympic Broadcasting Organisation:
- Televised more than 4,000 hours of live Olympic coverage
- Provided coverage of 300 Olympic events
- Utilised more than 1,000 cameras and 450 video tape machines
- Employed 3,700 personnel
- Worked with more than 12,000 accredited rights-holding broadcast personnel